Netbooks did not initially have a very good reputation. When the first models of these devices appeared on the market, consumers were very skeptical about them. Today, opinions about them have changed due to their affordability and portability, as well as various technical characteristics.
Taiwan-based Asus was one of the first to launch a Linux (and later Windows) netbook in the Eee PC line in 2007, so it's no surprise that the new Asus Transformer Book T100 looks impressive.
The new 10.1-inch T100 netbook tablet is portable, running the new version of Windows 8.1, allowing the user to install old programs on the desktop along with app shortcuts from Microsoft's Windows Store. The device transforms from a tablet to a mini laptop when the included keyboard is connected.
Like all other transforming devices, T100 simultaneously provides the user with two gadgets, eliminating the need for a second device.
Main Features
Asus Transformer Book T100 features low power consumption andruns on Intel's high-performance Atom platform. In terms of its technical characteristics, the gadget is able to compete with such 8-inch tablets as 8, 1 HP Omni 10, Toshiba Encore and Dell Venue Pro 8. At the same time, it cannot compete with 10-inch devices, including with remotely similar Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer Iconia W510 and even Microsoft Pro 2, since the processor of the described device has such a package, thanks to which it has a very high level of performance, ahead of many devices of the latest generation, for example, Acer Iconia W3 and Envy x2 HP.
Still, you won't be shocked by the price of this device. Asus Transformer Book T100 belongs to the same price range as 8-inch tablets. It costs around $300, but having a keyboard means it's a better gadget - you'll need it for a lot more of the things you do. Also, don't let yourself compare it to other netbooks - the T100 is not only a tablet, but also an attractive device with a glossy plastic cover that reminds you of Asus' premium line of ZENBOOK ultrabooks. At the same time, unlike the above devices, T100 looks much more modest, so you will not feel embarrassed when you take the netbook out of your bag on a train or at a business meeting.
Appearance
When the Asus Transformer Book T100 tablet is used without an optional keyboard connected, it reactsto changes in lighting and to touch. Its curved sides make it easy to hold it in one hand in tablet mode and operate it at the same time. As follows from user reviews, the gadget in this regard is more convenient than representatives of the third or even fourth generation iPad.
Connecting an additional keyboard makes the device less compact and not as light, but even in this case, its weight becomes a little more than one kilogram. In addition, the keyboard increases the thickness of the device when closed from 0.41 inches to 0.93 inches. However, it's not the thickest netbook and will fit in most small bags and pockets.
The Asus Transformer Book T100 3G has a somewhat quirky design in the form of a keyboard hinge. In tablet mode, said hinge protrudes from the back and appears to be a redundant detail. It is used, as you might guess, to operate the device in laptop mode. The unusual hinge is that it is located instead of the four rubber mounts on the underside of the device, which are convex in most similar gadgets. However, this feature doesn't make the device too big or too big - it just looks like a slightly odd design choice.
The black bezel is slightly thicker on the underside, but it doesn't interfere with using the device as a tablet, but looks a bit redundant in laptop mode.
Screen features
Asus Transformer Book T100 tablet features a 10.1-inch IPS displaywith a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels. It's the right resolution for the screen size - you'll never have the scaling issues that can sometimes appear on the surface of the Pro 2 at 1920 by 1080 pixels when using third-party apps.
The downside to this device is that the screen is not as new as the Full-HD panels. Thus, it can be described as quite worthy, but nothing more. Color reproduction is solid and confident without showing oversaturation, and brightness is evenly distributed across the panel.
The IPS display is multi-reflective, but glare is quite noticeable and often appears on it, and you will quickly see that there are no complaints up to a viewing angle of 178 degrees, but after this value there is a reflection. The above characteristic makes the device suitable for two users to watch Netflix or other content at the same time.
Control buttons and ports
The power button is located in the upper left corner of the tablet, next to the other settings controls. Many users prefer to use it to unlock Windows instead of the central button located below the screen. This is because when the device is in a horizontal position, such a button press is much more convenient. Plus, it also makes it much easier to take screenshots if you want to capture what's happening on the screen.
The Asus Transformer Book T100 is a lightweight and easy-to-operate device that strives for versatility. Therefore, its huge drawback is the lack of LTE. Wi-Fi signal reception is limited to 5GHz 802.11n, which is not high power. However, testing shows a good, uninterrupted internet connection that works over long distances.
Like many other devices of the same model range, Asus Transformer Book T100 can be charged via a micro-USB cable that connects to the tablet part of the device. This gives the user an additional way to charge the battery "on the go", i.e. while actively using the netbook. This recharging capability comes in addition to the standard proprietary connector. It's worth noting that you won't find any difference between the two when it comes to charging times. In both cases, this process is not too fast and takes about six hours to reach a full battery charge from a completely discharged state.
The device also has a full size USB port on the docking station (keyboard). This is a very nice addition to the functionality of the gadget and it means that you do not need to separately purchase and install a micro-USB adapter. Of course, you can use the built-in Bluetooth adapter to connect various accessories, and it will make your life much easier if you want to connect an external mouse or keyboard, or use a flash drive. Car charger for AsusTransformer Book T100 can be connected in the same way.
As with previous convertibles, the T100 features its own keyboard drive, which is attached to the keyboard to provide the functionality and style of a laptop. Many users will agree that keyboards that are designed to be used with the tablets that come with them look best. And in fact, there is nothing worse than when a device is paired with mismatched third-party accessories via Bluetooth or other technologies. This simply complicates the user experience and worsens the experience of working with the device.
Possibility to print texts
In the Asus Transformer Book T100, the keyboard can be very disappointing for those who expect to type large, voluminous texts. Its keys provide fast response and typing, but they are quite small, about three-quarters the size of a full-sized QWERTY keyboard. Thus, when typing for a long time, your wrists will be in an uncomfortable and unnatural position, which will lead to rapid fatigue.
Despite this, some users agree that working with a physical keyboard, even with small keys, is much better than typing on a tablet's touch screen. Undoubtedly, the use of the touch screen is also very convenient, and data entry is not easily tiring, but few users can do more.procedures than using it to take small notes or edit a document in the Asus Transformer Book T100.
Reviews about the gadget suggest that the device is a compromise to keep the size convenient for the user and at the same time make the device as portable as possible. Unfortunately, it is impossible to place a spacious and comfortable keyboard on such a transformer - this will significantly increase its size and weight.
Asus Transformer Book T100 specifications and dimensions
The trackpad on the device is quite soft and responsive, and it can be customized to your liking using the settings in Windows. However, its left and right buttons are unusually loud and produce a distinctly audible click each time they are pressed.
At the same time, this is not the worst trackpad among devices of this price category (much better than in the same HP Chromebook 11). Plus, there's a workaround: if you're so annoyed by this component, you can always connect a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
It's also worth noting, as a positive, that the developers at Asus chose not to include a battery in the keyboard to keep it small and light. Everything is powered by a single battery located in the main part of the device. In addition, attaching and removing this battery from the tablet part of the device is very easy - just press the release button in the middle at the top. This design with battery power from the entire gadget was immediately noted by positive reviews,as it adds a lot of lightness and compactness.
When it comes to the looks of the pre-installed OS, it's best not to beat around the bush: the modern section of the Windows 8.1 interface is very awkward and looks like an empty set of cells when it comes to third-party applications. Luckily, you can install many third-party existing programs that will make noticeable improvements. Asus Transformer Book T100 is rumored to be running Windows 10, but such an update is unlikely anytime soon.
Start screen and menu
Windows 8.1 comes with a number of improvements, including new ways to update apps for different parts of the screen and deep customization options. This allows you to connect the ability to use the desktop on the screen and the Start menu. Without this update, the use of the gadget may be somewhat difficult, especially in the absence of relevant experience.
The most attractive programs that are in addition to the operating system installed in the T100 are Microsoft Office 2013 and Student Edition, which are added for free. This add-on makes the Asus Transformer Book T100 (reviewed positively) a much more attractive purchase given the price of the licensed software above.
Office Applications
Microsoft's office apps are too specific and designed more to reveal the positives of improved integration with SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service. It means thatyou can edit documents offline and download them automatically when you are in communication range. Also, you don't have to use SkyDrive specifically - having "Windows 8.1" means you can install alternatives like Dropbox or Google Drive (or others that offer similar functionality) on your device.
Asus Transformer Book T100 3G is protected from viruses thanks to its own WebStorage, which offers various antivirus solutions. The gadget comes with 1 TB of free cloud storage space for one year, which is a very respectable amount, especially considering that Microsoft offers a relatively measly 200 GB of storage space with SkyDrive and Pro 2 tablets.
Photography Opportunities
Also, if you're looking for a Windows tablet that can take good pictures, the T100 is great for that. The device has a single 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera that works well enough for video calls via Skype or Google Hangouts, as well as taking decent selfies in a well-lit room. However, the camera power is not enough for more.
You can also take photos with the Microsoft Camera app for Windows 8.1, which allows you to take multiple pictures at once. You can then easily select the best photo by clicking on the "Save" button to send to your personal photo gallery or third party apps.
Because there is no camera on the back, you will not be able toany high-quality artistic photographs. For this purpose, the T100 will not work in any way.
Asus Transformer Book T100 Specifications
Asus developers have made every effort to keep the price of the T100 transformer as low as possible with the maximum possible system power. When you take the tablet apart, you'll find a 1.3GHz Atom Z3740 quad-core processor, 64GB of internal storage along with EMMC flash storage (in the UK, the unit is only sold with 32GB of internal storage).
The Asus Transformer Book T100 64GB is powered by 2GB of DDR3 RAM, which limits the device's performance (compared to the 4GB typical of most modern gadgets). However, this can significantly reduce battery consumption. After turning on the device, the desktop is fully loaded within 18 seconds, that is, almost instantly. Therefore, Windows 8.1 is a very fast loading shell.
Once turned on, it's clear that the Asus Transformer Book T100 provides enough power to run most programs and most common tasks smoothly. However, the device may start to slow down significantly when running demanding desktop applications (such as Photoshop CS5).
However, the gadget has more than enough power for basic tasks, running five to ten applications from the Windows Store at the same time, without causing noticeable slowdown. Watching 1080p video withYouTube while keeping multiple applications open, the user will not experience a negative impact on the overall system performance.
Battery life
When performing standard tasks, the battery of the device works without recharging for 10 hours and 45 minutes. This was tested experimentally - users opened and closed applications and played HD video files until the battery was completely discharged (up to the moment when the Asus Transformer Book T100 does not turn on due to a dead battery). This means you no longer have to spend a lot of money on a Haswell-based laptop if battery life is a priority for you.
Final conclusions
The Asus Transformer Book T100 is an impressive attempt to combine some of the more attractive aspects of netbooks with the versatility of today's tablets. This device does not aspire to be the leader in the category of mini laptops or tablets, but this combination of two devices into one will not go unnoticed.
The fact that the body parts are made of plastic, and the hinges for connecting the components are made of another material, visually seems strange. This Asus Transformer Book T100 Red (as well as other modifications) does not become worse than other gadgets, it just looks a little different. Its 10.1-inch screen works well in both mini laptop mode and tablet mode. If you enjoy the Windows 8.1 experience, this might be the device for you.
However, if you already have a separate laptop for work and are currently choosing a quality portable gadget, it is better to pay attention to full-fledged tablets. For example, Google's Nexus 7 is a smart choice if you don't want to buy 2-in-1 devices.
Good qualities
As a tablet, the T100 is a great gadget and a great buy. Currently, the number of applications offered by the Windows Store is growing every month. In addition, the device has an excellent battery life, which means that you can take it on the road and use it without recharging for most of the day. Being able to charge it via micro-USB is a bonus too, even if it takes longer. Thus, car charging for the Asus Transformer Book T100 becomes available. The addition of a USB 3.0 port on the chassis adds more versatility to the T100 and saves you the hassle of fiddling with a micro USB converter. And of course, 1 TB of storage space on the cloud service is perhaps the biggest plus.
Flaws
The big inconvenience is the keys, which are placed very closely and are too small. Because of these features, you will have to change your typing style and work with the device, otherwise you risk getting tired very quickly. If you need a device for typing a large amount of text, you will have to connect another keyboard that is not included in the kit.
The lack of a camera on the back also annoys most users, although not a very significant disadvantage. In addition, the T100 is considered to be a mid-range device that you can expect in this price segment, so you should not expect much power and many bonuses from it.
